ANAHEIM, Calif. – Urijah Faber said he had made adjustments since his interim title fight loss this past summer. If Saturday was the start of them, he may be on the path back to yet another title fight.

In a rematch from a fight more than seven years ago, Faber stopped Ivan Menjivar with a standing rear-naked choke for a first-round victory – keeping him perfect over the past four years in fights where a belt is not on the line.

The bantamweight bout was part of the main card of Saturday’s UFC 157 event at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.

Menjivar looked to trade early, but when Faber came forward it was Menjivar getting a good throw takedown. Almost immediately, though, Faber reversed and got to the top in side control.

Faber kept the pressure on, looking for a chance to work ground and pound without giving up the position. But Menjivar recovered to half-guard, then full guard. Menjivar looked for a triangle choke, but Faber postured out of trouble and rained down with a big left elbow. He continued to try to work the left elbow, then worked in with the right.

Halfway through the frame, Faber kept the elbows coming furiously, and Menjivar scrambled away and nearly landed an upkick with Faber on his feet looking to drop more bombs. With a minute left, Menjivar scrambled out and to his feet, but Faber expertly took his back and went for a standing rear-naked choke.

He sunk it in, and still on his feet, Menjivar was forced to tap at the 4:34 mark of the first round.

“California’s my spot, and I’m so happy to get a win here,” said Faber, who lives and trains in Sacramento. “He’s a pioneer in this sport, for those who don’t know. I just attacked his neck, and I just held on till the end. I’ve made some adjustments, and I’m going to make more.”

“That was a good, solid win over a very good opponent who a lot of hardcore fans know is one of the best in the world,” Faber said. “I’ve got nothing but respect for that guy. Of course I want the title. I still think I will get the UFC belt, and tonight was about proving that’s still in my future. Do I deserve the title shot next? That word ‘deserve’ keeps getting thrown around, but you deserve whatever you get in this sport. All I know is that I had something to prove tonight and I am ready to keep on proving it until I get back up there.”

Faber (27-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) returned to the win column after this past summer’s interim bantamweight title fight loss to Renan Barao. Menjivar (25-10 MMA, 4-2 UFC) now heads back to the loss column after a stretch that saw him win four of five fights.

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